{"product_id":"chicago-movie-palaces-of-balaban-and-katz-9781531623814","title":"Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban and Katz","description":"The Balaban and Katz Theater Corporation perfected the \u003cbr\u003e\"movie palace\" concept in Chicago, reating an extremely \u003cbr\u003epopular pastime that contributed greatly to Chicago's \u003cbr\u003ecultural identity. The Balabans started in the movie theater \u003cbr\u003ebusiness in 1908 by leasing the 100-seat Kedzie \u003cbr\u003eNickelodeon on Kedzie Avenue. Balaban brothers Barney \u003cbr\u003eand A. J. dreamed of operating 5,000-seat movie palaces, \u003cbr\u003eso in 1916, they joined family friends Sam and Morris \u003cbr\u003eKatz to form the Balaban and Katz Theater Corporation. \u003cbr\u003eTheir mission was to offer an unrivaled theater-going \u003cbr\u003eexperience with the finest live performances and service. \u003cbr\u003eThey built ornate theaters, such as the Chicago, the Uptown, and the Congress Theaters, filling them with fine \u003cbr\u003efurnishings, antiques, and artwork. Balaban and Katz \u003cbr\u003eproduced live stage shows between the movies with \u003cbr\u003ethe likes of Bob Hope, Louis Armstrong, and Benny \u003cbr\u003eGoodman. Sadly, only a few of these gorgeous theaters \u003cbr\u003estill stand today.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Arcadia Publishing Library Editions","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50351374041362,"sku":"9781531623814","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_5f215821-0b32-4a22-810a-09e370b74a0c.jpg?v=1728264870","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/chicago-movie-palaces-of-balaban-and-katz-9781531623814","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}